Archives for December 26, 2006

‘Had the Dolphins won on Christmas night and the Bills been able to protect a nine-point fourth-quarter lead at home against a rookie quarterback a day earlier, Buffalo’s season finale in Baltimore would have constituted the simplest of playoff scenarios: Win and you’re in.’

‘Since the bye week, Buffalo’s offense has been rolling up points. After averaging just over 14 points in their first seven games, the offense has averaged just over 21 points in their past eight contests. Granted there have been three defensive touchdowns and a special teams touchdown aiding that increase over that stretch, but the Bills have scored less than 21 points just once since the bye week (@ Indy 17-16).’

‘The Bills had some success defending the run in recent games after making halftime adjustments. But nothing worked against Henry, who got stronger as the game wore on.’

‘Sorry, but for all the progress J.P. Losman made this season, it was tough watching Tennessee rookie Vince Young dominate Sunday without thinking about where the Buffalo Bills would be had they properly managed their quarterbacks last year.’

‘The game was switched when NBC opted to televise Green Bay’s game against the rival Chicago Bears at 8:15 p.m. at Soldier Field.’

‘And then it all came unglued against the Titans. After its 98-yard embarrassment the week before, Tennessee had 109 yards by the end of the first quarter against the Bills and finished with 396, not to mention 30 points. The Bills were helpless in containing Young, whether he passed or ran, and Henry gouged his old team for 135 yards, becoming just the second former Bills running back to top the century mark against Buffalo. Antowain Smith was the first, doing it twice.’

‘First and foremost – and I know you’ve said it already – the No. 1 objective of this season was to find out if J.P. Losman was the quarterback of the future, and I think he has proved that he is. He’s still rough around the edges, and he needs more time to develop, but this was an invaluable year in his maturation. Given his physical ability, I think he’ll only continue to get better, and that’s definitely encouraging. Now the Bills can concentrate on building a more competent team around him.’

‘Clements considers himself one of the league’s elite cornerbacks, and expects his next contract to reflect that status. Champ Bailey set the standard when he signed a seven-year, $63 million contract that included an $18 million bonus with Denver in 2004.’

‘The game originally had been scheduled for 1 p.m.’

‘The same windy weather that helped the Buffalo Bills beat the Miami Dolphins a week earlier at Ralph Wilson Stadium turned into their enemy in Sunday’s 30-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Mother Nature showed she doesn’t discriminate.’

‘The Bills playoff hopes evaporated faster than good gift wrap in December with this loss and Dick Jauron and his staff must shoulder much of the blame.’

‘The Bills were humbled by the play of rookie sensation Vince Young, the Titans’ athletically gifted quarterback who threw for two TDs and ran for another. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell respected Young’s mobility so much, he had his defensive ends keep containment on the edges rather than rush up field. Young still got loose eight times for 61 yards, including a 36-yard TD scamper in which he headed left, then reversed field and weaved through six or seven Bills on way to the end zone. “We changed things up this week because of Vince and what he does on the ground,” DE Chris Kelsay said. “Anytime you have someone special like that, I think you have to do things differently. You have to have someone on him every single play and he still made plays, so congratulations to him for being such a good player. He plays with his head and with a chip on his shoulder. He’s a really good quarterback and he’s going to be for a number of years in this league.”‘

‘The second and final killer drive for the Bills occurred in the third quarter. Leading 26-20, Buffalo was knocking on the door of the Titans’ end zone. Unfortunately for tight end Robert Royal, it proved to be among the worst sequences of plays in his career.’